ATS Resume Template

What an ATS resume template is.

An ATS resume template is a resume layout made for applicant tracking system software. When you apply online, the system scans your resume before a recruiter reads it. It pulls your name, contact information, job titles, dates, work experience, education, and skills into fields, then compares that information with the job description.

A good template helps ensure your resume is easy for software and people to read. It uses one column, standard section headers, plain fonts, normal bullets, and selectable text. It also keeps key resume content in expected places, which helps the software find your experience and helps a recruiter review it quickly.

The goal is not a boring resume. The goal is a friendly resume that looks polished and still passes the scan. A clean ATS-friendly resume also supports saving time because you are not fixing broken formatting for every application.

Why ATS-friendly formatting matters.

Most job seekers apply through an online form. Before a resume reaches a hiring manager, software checks it for role specific skills, job titles, and keywords from the posting. If the system cannot read your file, it may miss strong experience.

Common problems include multi-column layouts, tables, headers, footers, images, icons, and text boxes. These elements may look good in Google Docs or a design tool, but after upload they can appear out of order, and some systems may skip them.

That is why a reverse chronological, single-column layout is the safest choice for most job applications. The format helps the software parse your resume, and your writing still needs to match the job description.

How to format an ATS resume.

Start with your name and contact information at the top, add a short professional summary, use a reverse chronological Experience section, add Education, and finish with a Skills section. Get these right and your resume parses cleanly into almost every system — Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, Taleo, iCIMS, and the rest.

The fourth rule is keywords: mirror the exact skills and job titles from the posting. ATS scoring is largely keyword matching, so if the role says "accounts payable" your resume should say "accounts payable," not "AP." The generator above seeds your template with role-appropriate language; your job is to make each bullet true and specific.

ATS resume template examples by format.

Five copy-paste starting points. Generate any of them above with your own role, then download as plain text or PDF. Each keeps the same ATS-safe structure — only the emphasis changes.

1. ATS-friendly resume template

The default, and the safest choice for most online applications. Reverse-chronological, single column, plain bullets.

JORDAN RIVERA
City, ST · (555) 555-5555 · jordan.rivera@email.com · linkedin.com/in/jordanrivera

SUMMARY
[2–3 lines: your title, years of experience, and the single most relevant strength for this role.]

EXPERIENCE
[Job Title] — [Company], [City, ST]                         [Mon YYYY – Present]
- [Action verb] [what you did] that [measurable result, e.g. cut processing time 30%].
- [Action verb] [scope/scale] resulting in [outcome with a number].

EDUCATION
[Degree], [Major] — [University], [City, ST]                [YYYY]

SKILLS
[Skill], [Skill], [Skill], [Tool], [Certification]

2. Chronological resume template

Leads with a steady, recent work history — the format hiring managers default to when your titles tell a clear upward story.

SAM OKAFOR
City, ST · (555) 555-5555 · sam.okafor@email.com

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
[One sentence framing your career arc + target role.]

EXPERIENCE
[Most recent Job Title] — [Company]                          [Mon YYYY – Present]
- [Achievement with metric.]
- [Achievement with metric.]
[Previous Job Title] — [Company]                             [Mon YYYY – Mon YYYY]
- [Achievement with metric.]

EDUCATION
[Degree] — [University]                                      [YYYY]

SKILLS
[Comma-separated, mirror the job posting.]

3. Functional (skills-first) resume template

Groups achievements by skill instead of by job. Use it for a career change or an employment gap — but keep a short dated work history at the bottom so the ATS still builds a timeline.

PRIYA NATARAJAN
City, ST · (555) 555-5555 · priya.n@email.com

SUMMARY
[Target role + the transferable strengths you're leaning on.]

CORE SKILLS
Project Delivery
- [Achievement demonstrating this skill, with a number.]
Client Communication
- [Achievement demonstrating this skill, with a number.]

WORK HISTORY
[Job Title] — [Company]                                      [YYYY – YYYY]
[Job Title] — [Company]                                      [YYYY – YYYY]

EDUCATION
[Degree] — [University]                                      [YYYY]

4. Entry-level / new-grad resume template

Education and projects lead; limited full-time experience comes after. Internships and coursework do the heavy lifting.

ALEX CHEN
City, ST · (555) 555-5555 · alex.chen@email.com · github.com/alexchen

SUMMARY
[Your degree, target role, and one standout project or internship.]

EDUCATION
[Degree], [Major] — [University]                             [Expected YYYY]
Relevant coursework: [Course], [Course], [Course]

PROJECTS
[Project Name] — [one line on what it does and your role]
- [Tool/skill used] to [result].

EXPERIENCE / INTERNSHIPS
[Intern Title] — [Company]                                   [Summer YYYY]
- [Contribution with a number.]

SKILLS
[Technical + soft skills, mirroring the posting.]

5. High school resume template

For students with no professional history. Lead with school, activities, and volunteering — all kept in the same single-column, ATS-safe layout.

TAYLOR MORGAN
City, ST · (555) 555-5555 · taylor.morgan@email.com

OBJECTIVE
[One line: the role or program you're applying to and what you bring.]

EDUCATION
[High School Name], [City, ST]                               [Expected YYYY]
GPA: [X.X] · Relevant courses: [Course], [Course]

ACTIVITIES & LEADERSHIP
[Club / Team / Role]                                         [YYYY – Present]
- [What you did and any result.]

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
[Organization] — [Role]                                      [YYYY]
- [Contribution.]

SKILLS
[Languages, software, certifications, soft skills.]

Which resume format should you choose?

The best resume format depends on your work history. A reverse chronological resume works best when your recent work experience matches the role. It is also the format recruiters know best because it makes your career path easy to follow.

A functional resume groups achievements by skill instead of by job. It can help if you are changing careers or returning after a gap, but use it with care. Many applicant tracking systems still need dates and employer names, so if you choose a functional style, add a short work history section below the skills groups.

A hybrid resume is often the safer middle ground. It starts with a strong summary and skills section, then uses a normal reverse chronological work history. This helps career changers highlight transferable skills while still giving the ATS a clean timeline.

Students and new graduates should use an entry level template. Put education, coursework, projects, activities, and internships above limited paid work. A high school resume template should also include school activities, volunteer work, awards, and part-time jobs. Keep the structure simple and single column.

How to tailor the template to a job description.

Do not send the same resume to every employer. Read the job description first, highlight the required skills, tools, certifications, and responsibilities, then compare them with your real experience.

Add the most relevant keywords to your summary, skills section, and work experience bullets. If the posting says customer relationship management, do not only write CRM unless both terms fit. If it asks for scheduling, reporting, or data entry, use those words where they match your background.

This step helps the software and the recruiter. The applicant tracking system scans your resume for matching terms, and the recruiter checks for proof in your results. Good tailoring should feel natural, not like a keyword list.

For each bullet, connect your action to a result. Instead of writing responsible for onboarding, write: Trained 12 new hires on scheduling tools and cut first-week support questions. Specific results make the resume stronger and easier to discuss in job interviews.

Common ATS mistakes to avoid.

Do not use tables, columns, text boxes, icons, or images for important information. Do not put your contact information in a header or footer. Do not use unusual section names such as My Journey when Experience is clearer. Do not upload a scanned image of your resume. Avoid keyword stuffing, and use a text-based PDF or Word document unless the employer asks for another format.

A template gets you a clean structure. Turning it into an interview takes one more step: tailoring each bullet to the specific job. That is where the free AI job applier and the full AI job applier come in — they rewrite your resume against a real posting, draft the cover letter, and submit through the employer's ATS. Browse everything on the tools hub.

How a resume builder can help.

A resume builder can save time when it follows ATS-safe rules. Look for a builder that creates a single-column layout, uses standard headings, and lets you edit every section. It should make it easy to change bullets for each job application.

The best resume builder does not lock you into heavy design elements. It gives you a clean template, then lets you adjust the content. Review the final file before sending it. Make sure dates are consistent, contact information is correct, and all keywords are relevant.

ATS resume template checklist.

Use one column from top to bottom. Add clear section headers such as Summary, Experience, Education, and Skills. Keep contact information in the main body. Use standard fonts and simple bullets. Match your resume content to the job description. Save the file as a text-based PDF or DOCX. Review the final document before each job application.

This checklist works for corporate roles, entry level positions, high school jobs, internships, and career changes. The details may change, but the structure stays the same.

ATS resume templates — FAQ.